A Brewers fan displays a message for the Cubs after the Milwaukee Brewers swept the Miami Marlins in the four game series. The Brewers moved ahead of the Cubs in the wild-card stansings pending the outcome of Chicago's game Thursday. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

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MIAMI – The Milwaukee Brewers are rolling, and at the absolute best possible time.

With a huge three-game series looming this weekend in St. Louis, they took care of the business at hand Thursday afternoon by sweeping away the Miami Marlins, 3-2, at Marlins Park.

Ryan Braun, once again wearing the jersey of injured friend and teammate Christian Yelich under his own as he promised he would, homered in the third to put Milwaukee in front to stay.

Then the bullpen flat-out dominated behind Gio Gonzalez, not allowing a baserunner over the final five innings while striking out 10. Including the final three outs Gonzalez recorded, Milwaukee pitchers retired the final 18 Miami batters.

The Brewers are a season-high-tying 10 games over .500 at 78-68, have won a season-high-tying seven straight and are in the second wild-card spot in the National League, tied with the Chicago Cubs after of the Cubs' victory in San Diego.

"It feels a lot like last September," said Braun. "I think kind of the same formula where everyone on the roster is contributing. We're experienced playing in these circumstances and this type of situation.

"Last year toward the end, basically we knew we had to win every single day. We've taken that approach over the last seven or eight days, and it's worked well for us."

Mike Moustakas, fresh off his two-homer, five-RBI performance in Wednesday night's win, got the Brewers onto the board first for fourth time in the series with a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the first. He drove in Lorenzo Cain, who led off with a single.

Miami answered with three consecutive singles off Gonzalez to make it a 1-1 game.

The Marlins were in position to take the lead two batters later, but second baseman Hernán Pérez threw home on a shot off the bat of Jorge Alfaro to cut down a sliding Miguel Rojas in the defensive play of the game.

"It’s such a heads-up play," manager Craig Counsell said. "There was a lot going on there. It was hit in such a way that the runner had to freeze, but it’s still a long throw for Hernán.

"It’s just Hernán recognizing that on a line drive, the runner’s got to freeze. But he had time, if for some reason he didn’t, to just go to first. That’s the kind of stuff that wins tight games."

Gonzalez helped his own cause by singling off left-hander Caleb Smith to start the third – his first hit in 21 at-bats this season – and two batters later Braun lifted a homer just over the wall in right to put Milwaukee back in front, 3-1.

It was Braun's first homer at Marlins Park and first since Aug. 17, when he hit a pair in a 14-inning Milwaukee win at Washington.

"Yesterday wasn't a good day for me individually, but the only thing that matters this time of year is winning. And we're all somewhat superstitious," he said. "As long as we keep winning, I can't change anything up. I had it on again today."

Braun also made sure to let Yelich know he was thinking of him as he crossed home plate.

"Threw up the double deuces for him," said Braun. "He texted me, 'It's about time you hit a homer. It's been a while.'

"Forty-fifth homer that's been hit in this jersey this year."

Isan Díaz and Lewis Brinson, two of the players sent to the Marlins in the Yelich trade, combined to make it a 3-2 game in the fourth with Díaz tripling to lead off and Brinson driving him in.

Milwaukee's bullpen took over from there, and it turned out to be no contest against Miami's young hitters.

Ray Black struck out two in the fifth, Drew Pomeranz struck out the side in the sixth and Freddy Peralta (6-3) bounced back with two impressive innings in the seventh and eighth to set up the ninth for Josh Hader's 31st save.

"They all did an outstanding job, starting with Ray," Counsell said. "They all had pretty easy innings, really, and Freddy probably had the highlight of it. He was great. His mom and dad were here again, and we’re thinking about taking them to St. Louis with us. He seems to pitch pretty well when they’re in the park.

"But he was great – got six big outs and got through the middle of their lineup, which was a big deal."

Now come the Cardinals, whose lead was only 3½ games in the Central Division as the Brewers left Miami. Milwaukee is 7-9 this season against the Cardinals, and 1-5 against them at Busch Stadium.

"What’s within the picture is to keep playing well, and that’s what we’re going to keep trying to do," Counsell said. "The other stuff, it doesn’t matter right now. Let’s just keep playing well, keep playing like this past week and we’re going to put ourselves in a good spot come the final weekend."

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Home sweet home: Gonzalez relishes coming back to Miami, where he maintains his residence. It happened a lot more often when he was pitching for the Marlins' East Division rival Washington Nationals, but he surely enjoyed the four or so days he was able to sleep in his own bed and spend time with his family while he wasn't at the ballpark.

"I’m enjoying every minute of it with my family here," said Gonzalez, a native of nearby Hialeah. "I finally get to play with the kids in the pool, where leaving Milwaukee it was just about getting into the 50s and now we get here and it’s in the 90s. Just sitting outside, enjoying the weather, seeing your kids running around in the back yard. It puts a big smile on your face, especially being born and raised here.

"It’s always nice to come back home, soak of the sun and enjoy good baseball."

Raptor on a roll: Left-hander Brent Suter is now 2-0 with a 0.96 earned run average and WHIP of 0.54 after carving up the Marlins to the tune of three scoreless innings on only 35 pitches Wednesday night.

"We talk about getting a boost from players in September, and this has been a huge boost," Counsell said. "He’s become a weapon, he really has."

Added Zach Davies: "Just picked up where he left off. A guy nobody can really get good swings on. His pace, his command, the deception, it's just continued. It's great to see him successful, it's great to see him back on the field after surgery."

Walk this way: Not only has Yasmani Grandal been on a homer binge the last 10 days or so, he's also been walking at an epic pace. He earned four more free passes Wednesday and walked again in his first plate appearance Thursday, upping his season total to 96.

He ranks fifth in the major leagues and seventh in franchise history and is 18 behind all-time leader Prince Fielder with 16 games to go.

"It’s just discipline and stubbornness. Just a really valuable trait," Counsell said. "I think he’s up to 95 walks on the season. That’s incredible at that position. He’s doing a heck of a job. It’s not easy to do, and he’s doing it as good as you can do it."

Arcia returns: Orlando Arcia was back at shortstop for the first time since he had to bolt mid-game Sunday in order to be present for the premature birth of his twin daughters. Arcia said both are healthy but will need to remain in the hospital for a few weeks.

In a nice touch, Arcia said the doctor who delivered the twins had the Brewers game on in the delivery room so that Arcia could multitask if he so desired.

"I was keeping up," said Arcia, who went 0 for 4, but made several nice defensive plays.